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Are You Prepared to Cope With an Earthquake?
Short-term
and long term-measures for protecting your family and home in the crisis
created by an earthquake.
The Jan 26,
2001 earthquake, with its epicenter in Gujarat, shattered many houses in
India. It has once again brought into sharp focus the general lack of preparedness
in an earthquake situation. Here is a guide that prepares you to handle
the crisis.
Short-term survival
guide
If
you are indoors:
-
Take cover under
a strong piece of furniture. Keep away from windows, outer walls and places
with overhead fittings. If you have to stand, stand near the wall, as that
will save you from roof collapse.
-
Do not use elevators
and lifts and steer clear of closed rooms. If you have to go to the ground
floor, go by the staircase. As soon as you experience the tremors, shut
off the main electricity switches, and also the LPG (liquid petroleum gas)
cylinder.
If you
are outdoors:
-
Move into an open
space away from electric poles and buildings and wait till the shaking
stops.
-
Do not enter a
building or a vehicle.
If you
are in a moving vehicle:
-
Stop the vehicle
immediately and move out.
-
If in an area
with buildings and trees, drive or move immediately to an open space.
-
Once the tremors
stop, drive carefully avoiding bridges and roads with trees on the sides.
Also look out for fallen wires and poles.
Long-term
solutions
-
You can earthquake-proof
your house by keeping heavy furniture firmly secured to the wall. Try to
have more storage units that are built into the wall and avoid cabinets
which can topple.
-
Hang all heavy
pictures and mirrors away from beds, chairs and other places where people
sit.
-
Keep any breakable
objects in the lower shelves of cabinets.
-
Have your building
and house checked periodically for any cracks. Check the foundation and
the structure of the building too to avoid any mishap in case of an earthquake.
-
Check electrical
wirings and gas pipes periodically to avoid any possibility of a fire.
These two are the primary causes of fire during earthquakes.
-
Keep all flammable
liquids in securely bolted cabinets. Avoid storing them in glass bottles.
-
Keep a handy First
Aid Kit in a place where you can easily find it.
-
Tell your children
about the safety measures to be taken during an earthquake.
-
Decide on an open
place close to your house where the whole family can meet during an earthquake.
This will eliminate the panic of being unable to find a family member.
-
Keep important
phone numbers like the fire brigade, police and ambulance written on a
piece of paper, pasted on the refrigerator or any other place where it
is seen everyday, so that your family remembers these numbers in case of
an emergency.
An all-time
motto
Always keep
away from rumours. Although earthquakes can happen anytime, anywhere, your
family should be taught to view it scientifically. Children must be told
that earthquakes cannot be predicted and that they should not fall prey
to any false and pseudo claims. And come what may, they should not panic.
Panic will only beget panic.
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